Pneumatic-pump construction



June 7, 1927.

H. J. LA Y.JOIE

PNEUMATIG PUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov.

JH a f f 9 6eme. 9 Z di Patented June 7, 1927'.A

COMPANY, orf-.NEW LYORLN. Y.,

.'A. CORPORATION or' vNew YORK.

PNnUMATIc-PUM?,,consrnuor1o1v- Application led November 19, 1925. Serial No. 70,155.

This invention relates to a pneumatic pump or bellows of the type commonly used in player pianos or other musical instruments. The bellows leaves in such pumps n are usually constructed of wood and have a metal block or bracket attached thereto with which bracket the actuating mechanism is connected.

It'has been the practice to secure this block or bracket to ,a wooden bellows leaf by two or three wood screws but it has been found that these wood screws have a tendency to become loose, particularly when the wood shrinks. This permits lost motion be- '15 tween the bracket and the bellows leaf,

which in turn produces a knock in the pneumatic mechanism which is particularly objectionable in a musical instrument.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction byV which the bracket and bellows leaf may be permanently secured together and by which any looseness arising from shrinkage will be automatically takenv My'invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a pneumatic bellows having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the line Z.1 -4: in Fig. 1 but showing the parts in different relations; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a spring plate forming a part of my invention.

In the drawings, I have shown a pneumat-ic bellows of the usual construction, having a fixed leaf 10, a movable leaf 11, .a bellows fabric 12, and a hinge connection 13, together with inlet and outlet valves 14 and 15. A bracket 16 is also provided, to which the actuating connection for the bellows is secured.

My invention relates particularly to an improved means for securing the bracket 16 to the movable leaf 11 and for this purpose I provide aligned openings in the bracket 16 and leaf 11, through which openings I insert bolts 17 provided with nuts 18.

I also provi-de a spring plate 19 (Fig. 5)

having elongated openings 20 in its end portions and adapted to be positioned between the leaf 11 and the nutsY 18, as shown in Fig. 3. I preferably provide pads or washers 21 between the leaf 11 and the plate 19,these pads being commonl formed of leather or similar material. T e parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 3, after which I tighten the nuts 18, bending the spring plate 19 to the flattened position shown in Fig. 4, in which position the plate inserts a strong outward spring pressure against the nuts 18.

To prevent subsequent removal or displacement of the nuts 18, I preferably cut olf and head over the bolts 17, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 1. I may also insert a wood screw 23 to form an additional fastening for the bracket 16.

lVith the parts thus assembled, it will be seen that the bracket 16 is drawn strongly against the leaf 11 and that any slight shrinkage of the leaf 11 will be taken up by the spring action of the plate 19, so that the bracket will remain permanently secured to the leaf 11 in such a manner that it cannot become loose .or rattle.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims but what I claim is y 1. In a pneumatic bellows, a bellows leaf, a bracket through which said bellows leaf is operated, said bracket and leaf having a plurality of aligned openings, bolts extending through said openings, nuts on said bolts, a perforated spring plate mounted on said bolts and interposed between said nuts and said bellows leaf, and cushion devices interposed between said plate and said leaf at the ends and center of said plate, said plate 3. In a pneumatic bellows, a bellows leaf, av bracket through which said bellows leaf is operated, said bracket and leafhaving a plurality of ings7 and .a perforated spring plate mounted aligned openings, fastening de-V fvices extending through said aligned openstrong tension through said fastening de- .Vices to draw sai-d bracket against said bellows leaf.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. l

HUBERT J. LA JOIE. 

